Page 77 of Burn Me Down

Cherry Popper: Fuck, you’re annoying.

There was a long pause, and I assumed he’d fallen back to sleep and was getting ready to blast his phone with messages when mine rang.

“You didn’t need to call,” I drawled.

“And you could learn to sleep like a normal person. I’ll have all the paperwork ready in two days. The guy was away, and I couldn’t get it as fast as normal.”

Two days, it might as well be two years when it came to Adam, but I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a deep breath. There was no point in yelling at Chase, even though it would make me feel better to vent on someone.

“Yeah, okay.”

“You really planning on moving, man?”

“Yeah, I need a clean slate, and I’m not going to get that here,” I said, kicking a stray stone off the front step.

“I’m gonna miss ya,” Chase said, and I screwed up my face and stared at the phone like he had just spoken a foreign language.

“Did you bang your head?”

“No fucker, I’m trying to be more in touch with my feelings,” Chase snarled on the other end of the line.

“You going to therapy now or something? Cause I don’t recommend it.”

“Fuck that shit. No, my yoga instructor told me I needed to.”

“Yoga? Okay, just stop. My mind can’t take any more revelations today. It is way too early to picture you in a downward dog.”

“Don’t lie. You like my ass.”

“Are you back on the sniffy stuff, man? That shit is going to ruin your brain.” I smirked as I laughed.

“In all fairness, you contacted me first.”

My hand clenched as I pictured punching Chase squarely in the middle of his face. “Listen, I need to ask a favor.”

“Another one? This is becoming a habit, and I only got a week's worth of work out of you.” I rolled my eyes.

“Shut it, this is important. If something happens to me, I need you to look out for Beck. Just keep an eye on her and make sure no one is taking advantage of her, and kill them if they do.”

“Well, if that wasn’t fucking ominous for six a.m. What the hell is going on?” All joking was gone from Chase’s voice. It was probably best he knew so that he could protect the club just in case.

“I have a serial killer on my ass. That guy I told you about is coming after me. He approached Beck yesterday, and I can feel him closing in. Anyway, just take care of Beck, okay, promise me that.”

“Fuck man, this guy must be pretty badass for you to be nervous, but of course we will, she’s family now. Why don’t you let us help you?”

I shook my head. “Naw, this is a war I started and need to finish alone.”

“Alright, well, the offer stands, and I will text as soon as I have the paperwork,” he said and yawned. I could hear him making a pot of coffee, and there was something weirdly calming about listening to a daily routine.

“Remember no fucking weird names,” I said, picturing Chase changing my name to Puff or Mushu, just to be an asshole.

“No promises.” He laughed, and I rolled my eyes.

“Thanks, man. Oh, and Chase?”

“Yeah?”

“You do kinda have a nice ass.”